Audio-visual system and method for controlling the same

ABSTRACT

An audio-visual system may include a housing comprising an open upper end and a storage space, an audio-visual device installed inside the housing and exposable through the open upper end, and a lifting device configured to expose or store the audio-visual device inside the housing through the open upper end. The audio-visual device may include a display, a speaker, and a processor configured to control the audio-visual system to operate in a first mode for outputting media art content while the display is stored in the housing according to a first event, operate in a second mode for outputting audio content through the speaker while part of the display is exposed through the open upper end according to a second event, and operate in a third mode for outputting a visual content while the entire display is exposed through the open upper end according to a third event.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 17/548,129 filed onDec. 10, 2021, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.17/219,387 filed on Mar. 31, 2021, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,223,793 issuedJan. 11, 2022, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.17/107,417 filed on Nov. 30, 2020, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,089,258 issuedAug. 10, 2021, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.16/918,793 filed on Jul. 1, 2020, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,880,512 issuedDec. 29, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.16/670,867 filed on Oct. 31, 2019, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,778,935 issuedSep. 15, 2020, which continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.16/428,501 filed on May 31, 2019, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,506,197 issuedDec. 10, 2019, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.16/000,403 filed on Jun. 5, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,447,962 issuedOct. 15, 2019, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.15/278,981 filed on Sep. 28, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,015,435 issuedJul. 3, 2018, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional ApplicationNo. 62/269,352, filed on Dec. 18, 2015, in the United States Patent andTrademark Office, and priority from the Korean Patent Application No.10-2016-0032824, filed on Mar. 18, 2016, in the Korean IntellectualProperty Office, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein byreference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

Systems, apparatuses and methods consistent with exemplary embodimentsgenerally relate to an audio-visual system and a method for controllingthe same, and more particularly, to an audio-visual system whichprovides various content output modes and a method for controlling thesame.

2. Description of the Related Art

With the development of electronic technologies, diverse types ofelectronic devices have been developed and have come into wide use.Specifically, visual devices and audio devices which are widely used inmany households, such as, a television (TV), a stereo system, or thelike, have been developed continuously in recent years.

With the advance of the performance of the visual devices and audiodevices, visual content and audio content is output in an optimal stateaccording to the characteristics of the contents.

However, in order to set up an optimal image-viewing environment orsound-listening environment, each household needs to be equipped with avisual device and an audio device separately. Further, the conventionalvisual devices and audio devices have been recognized as only anelectronic device irrelevant to a home interior decoration, although thevisual devices and audio devices have great importance in the homeinterior decoration actually.

SUMMARY

Exemplary embodiments provide an audio-visual system which featuresoutput modes optimized for respective content types and functions not asonly an electronic device but as furniture for the interior decoration.

According to an aspect of an exemplary embodiment, there is provided anaudio-visual system. The audio-visual system may include a housingcomprising an open upper end and a storage space inside the housing, anaudio-visual device configured to be installed inside the housing andexposable through the open upper end of the housing, and a liftingdevice configured to expose the audio-visual device or store theaudio-visual device inside the housing through the open upper end of thehousing. The audio-visual device may include a display, a speakerinstalled on at least one side of the display, and a processorconfigured to control the audio-visual system to operate in a first modefor outputting media art content while the display is stored in thehousing according to a first event, operate in a second mode foroutputting audio content through the speaker while a part of the displayis exposed to an outside through the open upper end of the housingaccording to a second event, and operate in a third mode for outputtingvisual content while the entire display is exposed to the outsidethrough the open upper end of the housing according to a third event.

The lifting device may include a lifting unit installed on a lower partof the display so as to make the display protrude from the open upperend of the housing and a driving unit configured to drive the liftingunit. The processor may be configured to, in response to a mode beingdetermined according to an event, control a driving status of thedriving unit such that the display protrudes from or is stored in thehousing in a state corresponding to the determined mode.

The processor may be configured to, in response to a mode beingdetermined according to an event, perform local dimming to at least apart of a screen area of the display based on a size of content outputin the determined mode. In addition, the processor may further include asource device and a communication unit. The processor may be configuredto, in response to a mode being determined according to an event,control the communication unit to automatically communicate with thesource device providing content which is outputtable in the determinedmode.

The processor may be configured to, in response to a mode beingdetermined according to an event, activate at least one speakercorresponding to sound output in the determined mode and performequalization for the sound.

The processor may provide a user interface (UI) where informationrelated to the audio content is reconstructed based on a size of thepart of the display exposed in the second mode, through the exposed partof the display.

The first event may be an event where the media art content is selected,the second event may be an event where the audio content is selected,and the third event may be an event where the visual content isselected.

The housing may include a front surface where a plurality of holes areformed with a predetermined distance therebetween.

The audio-visual device may further include a sensor configured to sensean accessory attached by means of the plurality of holes. The processormay control the display to display the media art content in a displayarea corresponding to a position where the accessory is not attached,based on a sensing result of the sensor, in the first mode.

According to an aspect of another embodiment, there is provided a methodfor controlling an audio-visual system including a housing comprising anopen upper end and a storage space inside the housing, an audio-visualdevice configured to be installed inside the housing and exposablethrough the open upper end of the housing, and a lifting deviceconfigured to expose the audio-visual device or store the audio-visualdevice inside the housing through the open upper end of the housing. Themethod includes determining a type of an occurred event of theaudio-visual device and operating the audio-visual system in a firstmode for outputting media art content while a display of theaudio-visual device is stored in the housing in response to the occurredevent being a first event, operating the audio-visual system in a secondmode for outputting audio content through a speaker of the audio-visualdevice while a part of the display is exposed to an outside through theopen upper end of the housing in response to the occurred event being asecond event, and operating the audio-visual system in a third mode foroutputting visual content while the entire display is exposed to theoutside through the open upper end of the housing in response to theoccurred event being a third event.

The lifting device may include a lifting unit installed on a lower partof the display so as to make the display protrude from the open upperend of the housing and a driving unit configured to drive the liftingunit. In response to a mode being determined according to an event,controlling a driving status of the driving unit such that the displayprotrudes from or is stored in the housing in a state corresponding tothe determined mode.

In response to a mode being determined according to an event, the methodmay further include performing local dimming to at least a part of ascreen area of the display based on a size of content output in thedetermined mode.

In response to a mode being determined according to an event, the methodmay further include automatically communicating with a source deviceproviding a content which is outputtable in the determined mode.

In response to a mode being determined according to an event, the methodmay further include activating at least one speaker corresponding tosound output in the determined mode and performing equalization for thesound.

The method may further include providing a UI where information relatedto the audio content is reconstructed based on a size of the part of thedisplay exposed in the second mode, through the exposed part of thedisplay.

The first event may be an event where the media art content is selected,the second event may be an event where the audio content is selected,and the third event may be an event where the visual content isselected.

The housing may include a front surface where a plurality of holes areformed with a predetermined distance therebetween.

The method may further include sensing an accessory attached by means ofthe plurality of holes and displaying the media art content in a displayarea corresponding to a position where the accessory is not attached,based on a sensing result, in the first mode.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The above and/or other aspects will be more apparent by describingcertain exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIGS. 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating implementation examples of anaudio-visual system, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2A is a diagram illustrating a structure of an audio-visual device,according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating a structure of a lifting device,according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed structure of theaudio-visual device of FIG. 2 ;

FIG. 4 is a diagram provided to describe an operating method in a firstmode, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a diagram provided to describe an operating method in a secondmode, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIGS. 6A to 6C are diagrams provided to describe installation positionsof a speaker, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams provided to describe an operating method ina third mode, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a diagram provided to describe a furniture function, accordingto an exemplary embodiment; and

FIG. 9 is a flowchart provided to describe a method for controlling anaudio-visual system, according to an exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Certain exemplary embodiments are described below in greater detail withreference to the accompanying drawings.

In the following description, like drawing reference numerals are usedfor the like elements, even in different drawings. The matters definedin the description, such as detailed construction and elements, areprovided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of the exemplaryembodiments described herein. However, other exemplary embodiments canbe practiced without those specifically defined matters. Also,well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail sincethey would obscure the application with unnecessary detail.

FIGS. 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating implementation examples of anaudio-visual system, according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 1A, an audio-visual system 1000 may include anaudio-visual device 100, a housing 10, and a lifting device (not shown).

The audio-visual device 100 may be configured to provide functions of avisual device for displaying images and an audio device for outputtingand recording sounds. For example, the audio-visual device 100 may beused as a visual device, such as, a TV, a monitor, and the like, or maybe used as an audio device for reproducing, outputting, or recordingdiverse formats of sound sources. In this case, a display of theaudio-visual device 100 may be formed as a flat panel in a roughrectangular shape, like a common Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) TV orOrganic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) TV. Further, the display of theaudio-visual device 100 may be formed as a curved-surface panel withcertain curvature. The following exemplary embodiments will be describedwith the assumption that a display 110 is formed in a flat panel shape.

The housing 10 includes an internal space for storing the audio-visualdevice 100 and an opening 11 on an upper end. Accordingly, the housing10 is formed to correspond to a shape of the audio-visual device 100. Asillustrated in FIG. 1B, the audio-visual device 100 may selectivelyprotrude from an upper side of the housing 10 through the opening 11formed on the upper end of the housing 10. The housing 10 may berealized such that the audio-visual system 1000 including theaudio-visual device 100 functions as furniture for storage and interiordecoration. Accordingly, an external surface of the housing 10 may bedesigned so as to allow various decorations and storage.

To be specific, a couple of support stands 13 for supporting the housing10 with respect to a floor surface are provided on both lateral surfacesof the housing 10. The couple of support stands 13 are installed suchthat a bottom surface of the housing 10 is spaced apart from the floorsurface. In this case, the floor surface may include a floor of a placewhere the housing 10 is installed, for example, a room, a living room, abed room, an office, a public space, or the like.

A plurality of holes 15 a are formed on a front surface 15 of thehousing 10. The plurality of holes 15 a are formed to fix accessories31, 32, 33, 34. The accessories 31, 32, 33, 34 are fixed by means of theplurality of holes 15 a on the front surface 15 of the housing 10 so asto support objects, for example, a book, with respect to the housing 10.By way of example, as illustrated in FIG. 1B, the accessory 31 may beformed in a flat-panel shape to be fixed by using one or more of theplurality of holes 15 a. The accessories 32, 33 may be formed in a rodshape to be fixed to one or more of the plurality of holes 15 a throughits one end. The accessory 34 may be formed in a rough bracket shape tobe fixed to one or more of the plurality of holes 15 a through its bothends. An accessory may be formed in a rough ‘L’ shape to be fixed to oneor more of the plurality of holes 15 a through its one end. Theaccessories 31, 32, 33, 34 in FIG. 1B are only examples for illustrativepurpose, and the shape of the accessory is not limited thereto.

In the same manner as on the front surface 15 of the housing 10, aplurality of holes may additionally or alternatively be formed on a rearsurface 16 of the housing 10, and various accessories may be fixed tothe plurality of holes on the rear surface 16 of the housing 10.

Meanwhile, at least one speaker for outputting sound of a contentreproduced in the audio-visual device 100 may be installed around thebottom surface in the housing 10. As an example, two speakers may beinstalled inside the housing 10 separately from the audio-visual device100. The sounds output from the two speakers may be transmitted to anoutside through the plurality of holes 15 a on the front surface 15 ofthe housing 10 and/or the plurality of holes on the rear surface 16 ofthe housing 10. In this case, the housing 10 may expand a volume of asound box of the speakers, thereby improving sound quality. Further, anopening corresponding to the speaker(s) on the front surface 15 of thehousing 10 may be formed such that a front surface of the speaker(s) isexposed to the outside. The at least one speaker may additionally oralternatively be installed outside the housing 10.

As described above, it is able to achieve an effect of using a speakerlarger than an embedded speaker of the audio-visual device 100 byinstalling at least one speaker separately from the audio-visual device100. Accordingly, the audio-visual device 100 may provide good soundquality when used as the audio device. Needless to say, a speaker may bealso embedded in the audio-visual device 100.

A lifting device (FIG. 2B, 200 ) is configured to expose theaudio-visual device 100 or store the audio-visual device 100 inside thehousing 10 through the upper end of the housing 10.

The lifting device (200) is installed on a lower part of theaudio-visual device 100 in the housing 10 and may be realized as alifting unit (210) for vertically moving the audio-visual device 100with respect to the housing 10. That is, the lifting device (200) makesthe audio-visual device 100 protrude outside the housing 10 through theopening 11 on the upper end of the housing 10 such that the display 110is exposed and also makes the protruded audio-visual device 100 descendso as to be stored in the housing 10. As the audio-visual device 100 isstored in the housing 10, the display 110 of the audio-visual device 100is protected by the housing 10.

The lifting device (200) may be configured to locate the audio-visualdevice 100 at at least two different heights. For example, the liftingdevice (200) may be configured to move the audio-visual device 100between a first position where the audio-visual device 100 is entirelystored in the housing 10 so as not to be exposed to the outside of thehousing 10 and a second position where at least a part of theaudio-visual device 100 is exposed to the outside of the housing 10. Inthis case, the second position may include a position where the display110 of the audio-visual device 100 is entirely exposed to the outsideand/or a position where only a part of the display 110 of theaudio-visual device 100 is exposed to the outside.

For doing this, the lifting device (200) may include a lifting unit(210) configured to be installed on a lower part of the display 110 ofthe audio-visual device 100 to make the display 110 protrude through theupper end of the housing 10 and a driving unit (220) configured to drivethe lifting unit (210). In this case, the driving unit (220) may beconfigured to drive the lifting unit (210) by rotation of a motor. Forexample, the number of rotations of the motor may be adjusted tocorrespond to the height of the audio-visual device 100.

FIG. 2A is a diagram illustrating a structure of an audio-visual device,according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 2A, an audio-visual device 100 includes the display110, a speaker 120, and a processor 130.

The audio-visual device 100 may be realized as a smart TV, a monitor, orthe like, but not limited thereto. The audio-visual device 100 may berealized as various types of devices providing a display function, forexample, a Large Format Display (LFD), a digital signage, a DigitalInformation Display (DID), a video wall, a projector display, and so on.

The display 110 may display diverse content screens that may be providedthrough the audio-visual device 100. In this case, the content screensmay include various contents including images, moving images, text,music, or the like, an application execution screen including variouscontents, a Graphic User Interface (GUI) screen, and so on.

The display 110 may be realized as diverse types of displays, such as,LCD, OLED, Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCoS), Digital Light Processing(DLP), or the like. Further, the display 110 may be realized as atransparent display with transparent materials to display information.In some cases, the display 110 may be realized as a touch screen thatforms a mutual layer structure with a touch pad. The display 110 may beused as a User Interface (UI), as well as an output device, in thiscase.

The at least one speaker 120 is installed on at least one side of thedisplay 110. The speaker 120 converts electric pulses into sound waves.The speaker 120 may be realized as a dynamic type classified byprinciples and methods for converting electronic signals into soundwaves, but not limited thereto. That is, the speaker 120 may be realizedas an electrostatic type, a dielectric type, a magneto striction type,or the like. Further, the speaker 120 may be realized as a multi-waytype that divides a register of a frequency band into a low register, amiddle register, and a high register and assigns each register to aproper speaker.

The processor 130 may control overall operations of the audio-visualsystem 1000 including the audio-visual device 100. The processor 130 mayinclude one or more components from among a Central Processing Unit(CPU), a controller, an Application Processor (AP), a CommunicationProcessor (CP), and an ARM processor.

The processor 130 may control the audio-visual system 1000 to operate ina first mode for outputting a media art content while the display 110 isstored in the housing 10 in response to a first event, operate in asecond mode for outputting an audio content through the speaker 120while a part of the display 110 is exposed to the outside through theupper end of the housing 10 in response a second event, and operate in athird mode for outputting a visual content while the entire display 110is exposed to the outside through the upper end of the housing 10 inresponse a third event.

In response to a mode being determined according to an event, theprocessor 130 may control the operation of the lifting device (200) suchthat the display 110 is exposed or is stored in a state corresponding tothe determined mode. For example, when the lifting device (200) includesthe lifting unit (210) being installed on the lower part of the display110 of the audio-visual device 100 so as to make the display 110 projectthrough the upper end of the housing 10 and the driving unit (220) fordriving the lifting unit (210) by means of the motor, the processor 130may control the driving unit (220) of the lifting device (200) such thatthe number of rotations of the motor is adjusted according to thedetermined mode.

The first to third events for executing the first to third modes may bethe events where each mode is selected by a user command. As an example,the events may include an event where a mode is selected by a remotecontrol device including a remote controller, an event where a mode isselected by a user gesture or user voice command, an event where a modeis selected by a button on the audio-visual device 100, and so on. Asanother example, a plurality of selection switches 22 for selecting aprojecting state of the audio-visual device 100 may be provided on anupper bezel area of the audio-visual device 100. The plurality ofselection switches correspond to each of a plurality of heights wherethe audio-visual device 100 may be located, respectively. Accordingly,in response to one of the plurality of selection switches being pressed,the processor 130 locates the audio-visual device 100 at a heightcorresponding to the pressed selection switch, and then a modecorresponding to the height is executed automatically.

The events are not limited to the above-described examples, and theevents may further include an event where a certain type of content isselected, an event where a predetermined time arrives, an event where anexposure degree of the audio-visual device 100 is adjusted manually, anevent where a user is recognized, and the like. As an example, theprocessor 130 may control the audio-visual system 1000 to automaticallyoperate in the first mode in response to receiving a command forselecting a media art content, automatically operate in the second modein response to receiving a command for selecting an audio content, andautomatically operate in the third mode in response to receiving acommand for selecting a visual content. As another example, when theaudio-visual device 100 is realized as a large display device, such as,the LFD or DID, the audio-visual system 1000 may operate in the firstmode or in the second mode while a user is not recognized in front ofthe audio-visual device 100 and operate in the third mode for displayinga content, such as, an advertisement or the like, when a user isrecognized in front of the audio-visual device 100. As still anotherexample, the audio-visual system 1000 may operate in the first mode fordisplaying the media art content providing appropriate illumination forsleeping during a predetermined time (for example, a bedtime from 12:00a.m. to 7:00 a.m.).

Meanwhile, according to an exemplary embodiment, a user terminal device,such as, a mobile phone, may be used as the remote control device. As anexample, the mobile phone may be triggered to provide a remote controlfunction with respect to the audio-visual system 1000 through a contactor Near Field Communication (NFC) with respect to the audio-visualsystem 1000. As another example, the mobile phone may be automaticallytriggered to provide the remote control function with respect to theaudio-visual system 1000 based on at least one of a user location, atime, and content use information. As still another example, in responseto the mode being converted, the mobile phone may be automaticallychanged such that a button that may be used on the mobile phone (forexample, a touch button) corresponds to the converted mode.

In response to the mode being determined (or executed) according to anevent, the processor 130 may automatically communicate with a sourcedevice providing content that is outputtable in the determined mode. Forexample, the processor 130 may automatically communicate with a sourcedevice providing a media art content in the first mode, automaticallycommunicate with a source device providing an audio content in thesecond mode, and automatically communicate with a source deviceproviding a visual content in the third mode. In this case, thecommunication connection may refer to all kinds of communication ablestates, for example, communication initiation, network formation, ordevice pairing between the audio-visual device 100 and a source device.As an example, device identification information on the audio-visualdevice 100 may be transmitted to the source device, and then pairingbetween the audio-visual device 100 and the source device may beperformed. As another example, in response to a predetermined eventoccurring in the audio-visual device 100, a peripheral may be searchedthrough a Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) method, and then thepairing may be performed such that the peripheral operates with a sourcedevice corresponding to the determined mode.

In this case, the processor 130 may display a list of contents that maybe provided by the connected source device. For example, in response toa set-top box being connected as the third mode is selected, theprocessor 130 may display an Electronic Program Guide (EPG) list. Inresponse to the mobile phone (or external server) being connected as thesecond mode is selected, the processor 130 may receive and display alist of audio contents that may be provided by the mobile phone (orexternal server). In response to a pre-stored contents being provided,the processor 130 may automatically display a list of the pre-storedcontents corresponding to each mode, needless to say.

In response to the mode being determined according to an event, theprocessor 130 may perform local dimming to at least a part of a screenarea of the display 110 based on an image size of a content output inthe determined mode. For example, in response to information on an audiocontent reproduced in the second mode being provided to only a part of ascreen area exposed to the outside of the housing 10, the processor 130may perform the local dimming to the other screen area than the exposedscreen area, that is, a screen area located inside the housing 10,thereby reducing power consumption.

In response to the mode being determined according to an event, theprocessor 130 may control the mode to be converted to an optimal outputmode where the user is able to view or listen to a content based onproperties of the content provided in the determined mode.

As an example, in response to the mode being determined according to anevent, the processor 130 may activate at least one speaker to correspondto the audio content output in the determined mode and automaticallyadjust a sound output volume to correspond to the determined mode. Forexample, an appropriate speaker and sound output volume may have beenset for each mode.

As another example, in response to the mode being determined accordingto an event, the processor 130 may automatically perform soundequalizing corresponding to the sound output in the determined mode. Forinstance, in response to the audio content being reproduced in thesecond mode, the processor 130 may automatically perform the soundequalizing corresponding to a genre of the audio content (for example, arock genre).

As another example, in response to the mode being determined accordingto an event, the processor 130 may adjust output brightness of a pixelbased on the properties of the determined mode. That is, the processor130 may decrease the pixel brightness in the first and second modes andincrease the pixel brightness in the third mode. Alternatively, theprocessor 130 may convert the output mode to a low-power mode where thepixel brightness is decreased automatically, in the first and secondmodes.

The processor 130 may change a display position or brightness of acontent according to a user command in each mode. For example, theprocessor 130 may change the display position of a media art content inthe first mode according to a user gesture command or change thebrightness of the media art content to change ambient illuminance.

The processor 130 may provide a predetermined feedback in response tomode conversation. For example, the processor 130 may provide at leastone of a visual feedback providing a predetermined image and an auditoryfeedback providing a predetermined sound. In this case, the processor130 may provide different types of feedbacks related to thecharacteristics of a converted mode. For example, the processor 130 mayprovide the visual feedback in response to the mode being converted froma certain mode to the first mode and provide the auditory feedback inresponse to the mode being converted from a certain mode to the secondmode.

In the first mode, the processor 130 may automatically communicate withan external source (for example, an external electronic device, anexternal server, or the like) providing the media art content to receivethe media art content or display the media art content pre-stored in theaudio-visual device 100 on the screen of the display 110. In this case,the operation of receiving and displaying the media art content from theexternal source may include an operation of downloading content from theexternal source and reproducing the content by the processor 130 and anoperation of receiving content reproduced in the external source (forexample, a mobile phone) in a streaming manner and displaying thecontent. In this case, in response to a resolution of the media artcontent downloaded or received from the external source in the streamingmanner being different from a resolution of the display 110, theprocessor 130 may convert a format of the content to an appropriateresolution and then display the content.

In this case, the media art content may be content selected by the userwhen the mode is selected or may be content set by default to beautomatically provided when the mode is selected. As an example, inresponse to a predetermined bedtime arriving, the processor 130 mayexecute the first mode automatically and display the media art contentfor helping with the user's sleep in order to use the media art contentas a sleeping light.

In addition, the media art content may be content including at least oneof a video and an audio. According to the setting in the first mode,only a part of the content may be provided. For example, although themedia art content is content including both the video and the audio, theprocessor 130 may reproduce only the video, except for the audio,through demultiplexing according to the setting in the first mode.

The media art content received from the external source, such as, theuser terminal device, may be content edited through an editor UIprovided by the user terminal device. As an example, the user is able toedit and generate media art content providing a pattern for helping withthe sleeping through the editor UI. In this case, the processor 130 maytransmit the information on the audio-visual device 100 (for example,the resolution or the like) to the user terminal device, and the userterminal device may provide the editor UI based on the receivedinformation. By way of example, an application for controlling theaudio-visual device 100 providing three kinds of modes according to thepresent exemplary embodiment may be installed in the user terminaldevice, and the user terminal device may control the modes of theaudio-visual device 100 through the application.

The processor 130 may change a display range automatically according toan attachment state of the accessory 31, 32, 33, 34 on the front surface15 of the housing 10. To be specific, the processor 130 may sense theattachment state of the accessory 31, 32, 33, 34 by means of a proximitysensor or the like and display the media art content in a screen areathat is not blocked by the accessory 31, 32, 33, 34, based on thesensing result.

As described above, in response to the media art content being outputwhile the audio-visual device 100 is entirely stored in the housing 10,the light emitted through the plurality of holes 15 a on the frontsurface 15 of the housing 10 may be utilized as a media object orillumination.

According to circumstances, the processor 130 may display the media artcontent by exposing a part of the display 110 to the outside of thehousing 10 in the first mode in order to provide the illuminationfunction. In this case, the processor 130 may display a single contenton the entire screen or display a content only in the exposed area.Further, the processor 130 may display different contents in the exposeddisplay area and an unexposed area.

The processor 130 may automatically communicate with an external sourceproviding an audio content (for example, an external electronic device,an external server, or the like) in the second mode to receive the audiocontent (for example, an audio file with a file extension, such as, MP3,WMA, OGG, WAV, or the like) or may reproduce the audio contentpre-stored in the audio-visual device 100. In this case, the operationof receiving and reproducing the audio content from the external sourcemay include an operation of downloading the audio content from theexternal source and reproducing the audio content by the processor 130and an operation of receiving the audio content reproduced in theexternal source (for example, a mobile phone) in the steaming manner andoutputting the audio content.

In this case, the processor 130 may reconstruct and display informationon the reproduced audio content (for example, information on albums,singers, lyrics, genres, titles, tracks, and so on) to correspond to theexposed display area. As an example, the processor 130 may convert theinformation to a UI with a certain ratio corresponding to the exposeddisplay area (for example, 80 mm with respect to a 32-inch displayarea). As another example, the processor 130 may display a UI where abit equalizer and a reproduction progress bar are shown in anoverlapping manner, in the corresponding area.

In this case, a UI corresponding to the audio content received from theexternal source, such as, the user terminal device, may be a UI editedthrough the editor UI provided by the user terminal device. For example,the user terminal device may provide a UI for editing the information onthe audio content (for example, Info Dashboard) through theabove-described certain application, and the information edited throughthe application may be transmitted to the audio-visual device 100.Further, in response to predetermined information on the audio content(for example, albums, singers, or the like) automatically beingtransmitted to the audio-visual device 100, the processor 130 mayreconstruct the received information to be an appropriate form of UI anddisplay the UI in the exposed display area.

According to circumstances, in the second mode, the processor 130 maysplit the screen area and provide different contents in each screenarea. For instance, the processor 130 may provide a UI corresponding tothe audio content to a first screen area exposed to the outside andprovide the media art content to a second screen area unexposed to theoutside. In this case, the processor 130 may control the brightness ofthe first and second screen areas individually to adjust the brightnessof each screen area differently. The brightness of each screen area maybe controlled individually according to the user command.

In response to the second mode being executed, the processor 130 mayautomatically perform the sound equalization corresponding to the genreof the output audio content. By way of example, the processor 130 mayperform corresponding sound equalization according to whether the genreof the output audio content is classical music, rock music, hip-hopmusic, electronica, or ballad. Further, the processor 130 mayautomatically adjust the output volume to correspond to the genre of theoutput audio content.

In the third mode, the processor 130 may automatically communicate withan external source (for example, a set-top box or the like) providing avisual content to receive a visual content (for example, a video filewith a file extension, such as, MPEG, MPG, MP4, AVI, MOV, MKV, or thelike) or reproduce a video content pre-stored in the audio-visual device100. In this case, the operation of receiving and reproducing the visualcontent from the external source may include an operation of downloadingthe visual content from the external source and reproducing the visualcontent by the processor 130 and an operation of receiving the visualcontent reproduced in the external source (for example, a mobile phone)in the steaming manner and outputting the visual content.

In response to receiving the visual content from the external source,the processor 130 may transmit information regarding the resolution ofthe visual content that is processible in the audio-visual device 100,the performance of a decoder installed in the audio-visual device 100, acodec type, or the like to the external source and receive a visualcontent whose format has been converted to correspond to the informationfrom the external source. Further, the processor 130 may convert aformat of the visual content received from the external source to aformat that is outputtable in the audio-visual device 100 and thendisplay the visual content.

The processor 130 may control a screen area in an appropriate size to beexposed to the outside of the housing 10 according to a ratio of thevisual content to be output in the third mode (for example, ratios of16:9, 21:9, 4:3, 1:1, or the like). That is, in the third mode, theprocessor 130 may control the entire screen of the display 110 to beexposed to the outside of the housing 10 by default or may control onlya part of the screen to be exposed to the outside of the housing 10according to circumstances.

In this case, the processor 130 may adjust the size of the screen areaexposed to the outside of the housing 10 so as not to show a blackscreen area (or a content non-display area, for example, upper and lowerblack bar areas in a 21:9-ratio screen) determined by the ratio of thevisual content to be output.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed structure of theaudio-visual device 100 of FIG. 2A.

Referring to FIG. 3 , the audio-visual device 100 includes the display110, the speaker 120, the processor 130, a communication unit 140, anInput/Output (I/O) unit 150, a storage 160, a microphone 171, a camera172, an optical receiver 173, and a power supply unit 180. Some of thecomponents of FIG. 3 overlap the components of FIG. 2A, and thus, arepeated description thereof will be omitted.

The processor 130 may include a CPU 131, a Read-Only Memory (ROM) 132(or a non-volatile memory) storing a control program for controlling theaudio-visual system 1000 including the audio-visual device 100, and aRandom Access Memory (RAM) 133 (or a volatile memory) for storing datainputted from the external source or being used as a storage areacorresponding to various operations of the audio-visual device 100.

The processor 130 controls overall operations of the audio-visual system1000 including the audio-visual device 100, controls a signal flow ofthe components 110-173 of the audio-visual device 100, and processesdata. According to circumstances, a first processor for controlling theaudio-visual device 100 and a second processor for controlling thelifting device(200) may be provided separately. In this case, the secondprocessor may include a motor controller for controlling the drivingstatus of the driving unit (220) in response to a control signal for thelifting device (200) being received from the first processor. Forconvenience in explanation, it is assumed that the motor controller isrealized as a single body with the processor 130.

The processor 130 controls power supplied to the components 110-173 bythe power supply unit 180. Further, in response to a predetermined eventoccurring, the processor 130 may execute an Operating System (O/S) anddiverse applications stored in the storage 160.

The processor 130 may include a Graphic Processing Unit (GPU) forprocessing graphics corresponding to images. The processor 130 may berealized as a System On Chip (SoC) including a core and a GPU. Further,the processor 130 may include a single-core, a dual-core, a triple-core,a quad-core, or any number of cores in multiples thereof.

The CPU 131 accesses the storage 160 and performs a boot-up operation byusing the O/S stored in the storage 160. Then, the CPU 131 performsvarious operations by using diverse programs, contents, and data in thestorage 160.

The ROM 132 stores a set of commands for system booting. In response tothe power being supplied by a turn-on command, the CPU 131 copies theO/S in the storage 160 to the RAM 133 according to the commands storedin the ROM 132, and boots up the system by executing the O/S. Uponcompletion of the boot-up operation, the CPU 131 copies variousapplication programs in the storage 160 to the RAM 133 and executes theprograms copied to the RAM 133 to perform various operations. The CPU131, the ROM 132, and the RAM 133 may be interconnected through aninternal bus.

The audio-visual device 100 may be connected to an external device in awired and/or wireless manner by using the communication unit 140 or theI/O unit 150. The external device may include a mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet, a Personal Computer (PC), a server, or the like.

The communication unit 140 may connect the audio-visual device 100 withthe external device by the control of the processor 130. The processor130 may download content from the external source or receive contentfrom the external source in the streaming manner through thecommunication unit 140. Specifically, in response to the mode beingdetermined according to an event, the processor 130 may control thecommunication unit 140 to automatically communicate with the sourcedevice providing content which is outputtable in the determined mode.

The communication unit 140 may include at least one of a wired Ethernet141, a wireless Local Area Network (LAN) communicator 142, and aBluetooth communicator 143, according to the performance and structureof the audio-visual device 100.

The I/O unit 150 receives various contents from the external source bythe control of the processor 130. The contents may include at least oneof videos, images, text, and sounds, for example. The I/O unit 150 mayinclude at least one of a High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI)input port 151, a component input jack 152, a PC input port 153, and aUniversal Serial Bus (USB) input jack 154.

The storage 160 may store various data, programs, or applications fordriving and/or controlling the audio-visual device 100.

The storage 160 may store a control program for controlling theaudio-visual device 100 and the processor 130, applications initiallyprovided by a manufacturer or downloaded from an external source, GUIsrelated to the applications, objects for providing the GUIs (forexample, images, text, icons, buttons, or the like), user information,documents, databases, related data, and so on.

The storage 160 may include a broadcasting receiving module, a channelcontrol module, a volume control module, a communication control module,a voice recognition module, a motion recognition module, an opticalreceiving module, a display control module, an audio control module, anexternal input control module, a power control module, a voice database(DB), or a motion database (DB). The processor 130 may execute thefunctions of the audio-visual device 100 by using software stored in thestorage 160.

The storage 160 may include a memory card mounted in the audio-visualdevice 100 (for example, a micro Secure Digital (SD) card, a USB memory,or the like), an external memory connectable to the USB input jack 154of the I/O unit 150 (for example, a USB memory or the like), anon-volatile memory, a volatile memory, a Hard Disk Drive (HDD), or aSolid State Drive (SSD).

The microphone 171 receives and converts a user voice or other sounds toaudio data. The camera 172 captures a still image or a moving imageaccording to the user control. The processor 130 may use the user voiceinputted through the microphone 171 during a call process or convert theuser voice to the audio data and store the converted audio data in thestorage 160. When the audio-visual device 100 includes the microphone171 and the camera 172, the processor 130 may perform various controloperations, for example, an operation of selecting one of the first tothird modes, in response to the user voice inputted through themicrophone 171 or a user motion recognized through the camera 172.

The optical receiver 173 receives an optical signal (including controlinformation) output from the remote control device through an opticalwindow.

The optical receiver 173 may receive the optical signal corresponding toa user input (for example, touch, pressing, touch gesture, voice, ormotion) from the remote control device. In this case, the controlinformation extracted from the received optical signal may betransmitted to the processor 130.

The power supply unit 180 supplies power received from an external powersource to the components 110-180 in the audio-visual device 100 by thecontrol of the processor 130.

A tuner 105 may tune and select only a frequency of a desired channel tobe received in the audio-visual device 100 from among many radio waveelements of broadcasting signals received in a wired and/or wirelessmanner, through amplification, mixing, resonance, or the like. Forexample, the tuner 105 may tune and provide a broadcasting channelaccording to a user selection in the third mode.

On top of the above-described components, the audio-visual device 100may further include any number of sensors (190), such as, a sensor forsensing an accessory attached to the front surface 15 of the housing 10and its attached position, a sensor for sensing the outside exposuredegree of the display 110.

FIG. 4 is a diagram provided to describe an operating method in a firstmode, according to an exemplary embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 4 , in response to the first mode being executedaccording to a first event, media art content may be output while thedisplay 110 is stored in the housing 10. For example, in response to aheart-shaped content being output as illustrated in FIG. 4 , the heartshape 410 is shown through the plurality of holes 15 a on the frontsurface 15 of the housing 10, and thus, the media art effect. In thiscase, the first event may be various kinds of events, for example, anevent where a user selects the first mode, an event where apredetermined time arrives (for example, 10:00 p.m.), an event where nouser input is received over a predetermined time in the third mode, andso on.

FIG. 5 is a diagram provided to describe an operating method in a secondmode, according to an exemplary embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 5 , in response to the second mode being executedaccording to a second event, the audio content may be output through thespeaker 120 while a part of the display 110 is exposed to the outsidethrough the upper end of the housing 10. In this case, an exposeddisplay area 510 may display a UI including the information on theoutput audio content (for example, information on albums, singers,lyrics, genres, titles, tracks, or the like).

FIGS. 6A to 6C are diagrams provided to describe installation positionsof a speaker, according to an embodiment.

According to an exemplary embodiment, at least one speaker may beinstalled at various positions as illustrated in FIGS. 6A to 6C.

As an example, as illustrated in FIG. 6A, at least one speaker foroutputting the sound of content reproduced in the audio-visual device100 may be installed around an upper part 610 of the audio-visual device100.

As another example, as illustrated in FIG. 6B, at least one speaker foroutputting the sound of the content reproduced in the audio-visualdevice 100 may be installed around the bottom surface in the housing 10.

As still another example, as illustrated in FIG. 6C, two speakers may beinstalled on a left side 631 and on a right side 632 inside the housing10, separately from the audio-visual device 100.

An opening corresponding to the at least one speaker may be formed onthe front surface 15 of the housing 10 such that a front surface of thespeaker is exposed to the outside. Further, the at least one speaker maybe installed outside the housing 10.

Meanwhile, in the above-described exemplary embodiments, the speakersare installed at different positions according to respectiveembodiments, but not limited thereto. The speakers may be installedaccording to a combination of at least two exemplary embodiments.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams provided to describe an operating method ina third mode, according to an exemplary embodiment.

In response to the third mode being executed according to a third event,the visual content may be output while the entire display 110 is exposedto the outside through the upper end of the housing 10, as illustratedin FIG. 7A. In this case, the visual content may refer to a contentincluding both video and audio.

According to another exemplary embodiment, a part of the screen may benot exposed to the outside of the housing 10 as illustrated in FIG. 7B.For example, a part of the display 110 may be not exposed to the outsideof the housing 10 so as not to show the black screen area (or thecontent non-display area) determined by the ratio of the output visualcontent. By way of example, when the visual content is an image with theaspect ratio of 21:9, the display 110 may protrude from the housing 10such that the aspect ratio of the display 110 becomes the ratio 21:9,thereby providing the content without the black screen area.

FIG. 8 is a diagram provided to describe a furniture function, accordingto an exemplary embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 8 , the audio-visual device 100 may be used asthe furniture providing a simple storage function by means of theaccessories 31, 32, 33, 34 attached to the front surface 15 of thehousing 10.

For example, as illustrated, the plurality of holes 15 a on the frontsurface 15 of the housing 10 may be formed so as to fix the accessories31, 32, 33, 34. In this case, the accessories 31, 32, 33, 34 may havevarious shapes suitable to be fixed to the holes, for example, a flatpanel shape, a rod shape, a rough bracket shape, or the like. Theaccessories 31, 32, 33, 34 may store a variety of items.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart provided to describe a method for controlling anaudio-visual system, according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 9 , there is provided a method for controlling anaudio-visual system including a housing configured to include an openupper end and a storage space inside the housing, an audio-visual deviceconfigured to be installed inside the housing and exposable through theupper end of the housing, and a lifting device configured to expose theaudio-visual device or store the audio-visual device inside the housingthrough the upper end of the housing. According to the method, inresponse to an event occurring in the audio-visual device being a firstevent (S910: Y), the audio-visual device operates in a first mode foroutputting a media art content while the display of the audio-visualdevice is stored in the housing (S920).

In response to the event occurring in the audio-visual device being asecond event (S930: Y), the audio-visual device operates in a secondmode for outputting an audio content through a speaker of theaudio-visual device while a part of the display is exposed to an outsidethrough the upper end of the housing (S940).

In response to the event occurring in the audio-visual device being athird event (S950: Y), the audio-visual device operates in a third modefor outputting a visual content while all of an appropriate portion(based on the visual content) of the display is exposed to the outsidethrough the upper end of the housing (S960).

In this case, the lifting device may include a lifting unit configuredto be installed on a lower part of the display so as to make the displayproject through the upper end of the housing and a driving unitconfigured to drive the lifting unit. In this case, in response to themode being determined according to an event, the audio-visual device maycontrol the driving status of the driving unit such that the displayprojects or is stored in a state corresponding to the determined mode.

Further, in response to a mode being determined according to an event,the method may further include performing local dimming to at least apart of a screen area of the display based on a size of a content outputin the determined mode.

In response to a mode being determined according to an event, the methodmay further include automatically communicating with a source deviceproviding content which is outputtable in the determined mode.

In response to a mode being determined according to an event, the methodmay further include activating at least one speaker corresponding tosound output in the determined mode and performing equalization for thesound.

The method may further include providing a UI where information relatedto the audio content is reconstructed based on a size of the part of thedisplay exposed in the second mode, through the exposed part of thedisplay.

Further, according to an exemplary embodiment, the housing includes afront surface where a plurality of holes are formed with a predetermineddistance therebetween. In this case, the method may further includesensing an accessory attached by means of the plurality of holes anddisplaying the media art content in a display area corresponding to aposition where the accessory is not attached, based on a sensing resultof the sensor, in the first mode.

According to the above-described various exemplary embodiments, theaudio-visual system may provide a user with animage-viewing/sound-listening environment according to respective modesoptimized for diverse content types, thereby enhancing user convenience.Further, the audio-visual system may function as storage furniturecontributing to the home interior decoration, thereby satisfying user'saesthetic needs.

The methods according to the above-described various exemplaryembodiments may be implemented simply by upgrading the software orhardware of the conventional audio-visual devices.

In addition, the above-described various exemplary embodiments may berealized through an embedded server in the audio-visual device or anexternal server outside the audio-visual device.

The inventive concept may also be embodied as a non-transitory computerreadable medium including a program that is executed by a processor or acomputer for sequentially executing operations of the above-describedmethod may be provided.

The non-transitory computer readable medium refers to a medium thatstores data permanently or semi-permanently unlike a register, a cache,or a memory that stores data for a short time, and is readable by adevice. Particularly, the above-described various applications andprograms may be stored in and provided through the non-transitorycomputer readable medium, such as, a Compact Disc (CD), a DigitalVersatile Disk (DVD), a hard disk, a Blu-ray disk, a USB, a memory card,a ROM, or the like.

As provided above, a few exemplary embodiments have been shown anddescribed. The foregoing exemplary embodiments and advantages are merelyexemplary and are not to be construed as limiting the presentdisclosure. The present teaching can be readily applied to other typesof devices. Also, the description of the exemplary embodiments isintended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scope of the claims,and many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent toa person having ordinary skill in the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. An audio-visual device comprising: a housing; aspeaker; a display comprising a display area; an actuator configured tochange at least portion of the display area that is exposed outside thehousing; and at least one processor configured to: control the actuatorto set the audio-visual device to a mode from among a first mode forexposing a first portion of the display area of the display outside thehousing and a second mode for exposing the first portion and a secondportion of the display area of the display outside the housing, whereinthe at least one processor further configured to: while the audio-visualdevice is in the first mode, control the speaker to reproduce an audiocontent and control the display to display, on the first portion of thedisplay area of the display, information relating to the audio contentbeing reproduced.
 2. The audio-visual device as claimed in claim 1,wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: while theaudio-visual device is in the second mode, control the display todisplay video content on the first portion and the second portion of thedisplay area.
 3. The audio-visual device as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe information relating to the audio content being reproduced is a userinterface to provide information relating to the audio content beingreproduced.
 4. The audio-visual device as claimed in claim 3, whereinthe user interface is configured to be displayed in an aspect ratio thatcorresponds to an aspect ratio of the first portion of the display area.5. The audio-visual device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: acommunicator, and wherein the at least one processor is furtherconfigured to: control the communicator to communicate with a remotecontroller having a plurality of buttons, in response to receiving asignal from the remote controller while the audio-visual device is inthe first mode, the signal corresponding to a button from among theplurality of buttons, control the actuator to set the audio-visualdevice from the first mode to the second mode.
 6. The audio-visualdevice as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a communicator, andwherein the at least one processor is further configured to: control thecommunicator to communicate with a remote controller having a pluralityof buttons, and in response to receiving a signal from the remotecontroller while the audio-visual device is in the second mode, thesignal corresponding to a button from among the plurality of buttons,control the actuator to set the audio-visual device from the second modeto the first mode.